The International Quilt Association, the non-profit organization that hosts the annual World of Beauty quilt show at International Quilt Festival in Houston, Texas each November, announced today that it will be closing down. The announcement was made in a letter sent to its members and sponsors, and signed by the president of the organization’s Board of Directors, acclaimed quilter Ricky Tims, along with the organization’s founders Karey Bresenhan and Nancy O’Bryant Puentes. It explained that years of declining membership along with the impact of COVID-19 led to the decision.
International Quit Festival is the largest quilt festival in the US. World of Beauty is the judged competition that takes place at the show.
“Membership renewals are down, we have had no Judged Show, no raffle quilt income to date, no events at the fall show such as Winners Circle, Quiltapalooza, the mini-quilt Silent Auction, or the IQA luncheon, and no election of new officers. In addition, for many years, IQA has seen a decrease in total membership numbers,” the statement read.
“IQA has for years depended upon Quilts, Inc. to cover such expenses as rent, salary, and other operating costs. But because the company could not hold any shows in 2020, resulting in the loss of an entire year’s income, it is unable to offer further support to the organization. Taken all together, these things mean basically no income for our organization.”
The World of Beauty show was highly prestigious with three jurors and three different judges each year. In order to enter a quilt in the show, quilters were required to become members of the non-profit. Annual dues were $25. Accepted quilts were judged in person, not from photos.
There were eight large prizes offered each year including Best in Show ($12,500), the Founder’s Award and the World of Beauty Award ($7,500 each) and Contemporary Artistry, Machine Artistry, Innovative Artistry, and Thread Artistry ($5000 apiece). Quilts entered into the show could be for sale, and 20% of the proceeds of any sale were donated back to IQA.
In addition to World of Beauty, International Quilt Festival has several special exhibits. These exhibits are hosted by Quilts, Inc. a for-profit organization that is not part of IQA and will not be shutting down.
In today’s announcement, Tims mentioned that there will be a new, judged quilt competition at future shows. “Many of you may wonder if this means there will be no Judged Show at International Quilt Festival, but we have received a commitment from organizers of Festival to add a quilt competition,” the statement said. “So, although details remain to be worked out, ‘the show will go on.'”
Art quilter and national teacher Lyric Kinard, who has taught at International Quilt Festival for two decades, reacted to the news this way: “I don’t believe much will change other than that they will no longer have to answer to board members when making decisions about the largest quilt show in the world. They will still run the conventions with hundreds of vendors, classes, and quilts on display. It will still be the place for quilters to come together from around the world.”
Quilts did not have to be for sale. That was up to the artist if they wanted to offer the quilt for sale.
We’ve made that correction. Thank you.
Amazing!!! 1st I’ve heard of organization, membership, or any thing else about show. No wonder membership is down if there is Nothing in auy quilt mag., i read & thats almost every one on the market. Perhaps not keeping this exclusively a norm this end would not have happened. I am also a rug hooker, our numbers grow every year through the American traditional hooking assoc., & just traditional is not the name of our game plan. Can’t grow if we don’t know. Patt weimer
It’s worth noting that although American quilters often refer to the Houston quilt show with its attendance of around 62,000 people as the “largest quilt show in the world,” it has been in fact about 25% of the size of the Tokyo Dome quilt show which has in the past few years attracted around 250,000 attendees. The goal in pointing this out is that there’s a whole world of quilting outside of the US and the UK that should also inspire American quilters.
Great point. For an inspiring look at the 2020 Tokyo show, check out Patricia Belyea’s post here: https://okanarts.com/blogs/blog/tokyo-quilt-festival-2020
There was communication earlier this year that the Tokyo Quilt Festival had decided to close its business indefinitely. I have done an extensive internet search to find any direct website with show information or future show dates. There are only references to the show on travel sites and blog posts. Sad to see what has happened to event companies this year.
I understand that they can’t have live venues this year due to the pandemic but from everything else I’m reading online more and more people are flocking to crafting since March. It sounds like they didn’t pivot their program to accommodate virtual events and just relied on the live events. People are home right now more than ever and if you can just ramp up the online classes, video tutorials, social media presence and maybe virtual quilt shows in this case that could be a win for any craft group. To me its just an opportunity to pivot in a new direction but if you don’t move fast enough you’ll be left behind.
Hi Michelle, There was a virtual version of International Quilt Festival this year: https://www.quilts.com/quilt-festival/virtual-quilt-festival/
Thanks Abby I missed it but I think its the near future, more things virtual that is.
Hi. I live in Texas and checked the website and didn’t know they had a virtual version of the show. Perhaps this is the problem–the communication isn’t too great? Also, I hate to be negative, but when I lived in Houston everyone was really nice going to the quilt show every year–then I moved to San Antonio and would travel there for the quilt show—and everyone was not so nice. And when I say “they” weren’t so nice…it went from being sold my entrance ticket…to attempting to ask a question from one on the booth people who weren’t really selling anything…to attempting to pay for something I had purchased….they all had the ugliest frown and attitude towards me…I wonder if this is why the numbers are down? I know I hadn’t changed….I say thank you and please….but the quilt festival did change….and so did the people involved in it. The food court grew, but the amount of quilts being shown shrunk and so, did the vendors and ugly attitudes entered the building. PS…I’m a happy person:) Thanks.
IQA is not International Quilt Festival it is a PART of IQF.
GASP! We’ve seen the best quilting magazines fold, one after another, and now this? I feel like Cinderella, if her pumpkin coach had broken down and she arrived at the ball the following morning, back in her rags, as the palace staff was cleaning up and packing away the decorations. Attending that quilt show in person someday has been on my bucket list, and now it’s too late.
The quilt show is not cancelled, just the World of Beauty event.
The Houston show is an amazing array of creative talent, inspiration and technical expertise…like all quilt shows. It has purpose and focus and never fails to delight. I am surprised that this has happened without a call to arms but I believe the need is great to keep the show alive. Some great points are made in the comments…the world is quilting. If anything this year has been about flexibility…if we are open to change we can make anything happen. I look forward to seeing how we can all contribute to make this great experience continue into the future.
So does this mean the quilt market and festival in Houston will still go on but the quilt show will not?
Yes, just the World of Beauty competition will not.
Can anyone attend this event or is this just an event for quilt shops and wholesalers. Where does one find all this information for attending?
It is both! It’s a market for vendors (early in the week) and then open to the public later in the week and on the weekend! You can shop for fabrics, notions, sewing machines, long-arm machine, etc. and then the quilts that are displayed in the exhibition area are inspiring and so beautiful! It is truly a wonderful way to get some inspiration and to be surrounded by other quilters!
I am lucky enough to live in Austin where I can attend the show year after year. My girls basically “grew up” at the festival. My then 4 year old first sat at a sewing machine there and sewed her own 4 patch with an elderly volunteer (yup, really! Age 4!). My older daughter remembers being pushed around in a stroller she was much too old and big to ride in. They went with me until they started complaining and then I’d go solo. It really is an Event with a capital E. Most definitely worthy of your bucket list!
Wow! The Houston show is on my bucket list. Looking forward to the new and improved quilt competition.
So, will there be advertising about the show so people will know when it is and can attend. Seems, in the past, I have only heard about it after the show was over…. Is there an email list, to be notified of the dates etc?
Hi Janet, You can visit https://www.quilts.com/ to get information about the show. Quilts Inc. also has a Facebook page.
How many quilts have normally been entered into the show contest, and how many are accepted into the World of Beauty?